Graduate Program - Doctor Of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy degree represents the attainment of a high level of scholarship and achievement in independent research that culminates in the completion of a dissertation of original scientific merit. Hence, it cannot be prescribed in terms of a fixed semester credit hour requirement.

Course work and research amounting to the equivalent of two academic years beyond the master's degree or three years beyond the bachelor's degree may be considered the minimum.

Generally, the degree consists of 60 semester credit hours beyond the master's degree, with 12 semester credit hours allocated for the dissertation.

It is expected that the candidate will have published at least one original research article in a refereed journal prior to graduation.

Departmental admission to the doctoral program in materials science (as distinguished from admission to candidacy for the PhD program) requires a satisfactory score on the written and oral sections of the qualifying examination. This is normally taken after completion of the basic curriculum, after the second year. Enrollment in MTSE 6950 will not be allowed until the student has completed this requirement. Contact the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies or the program for current admission requirements, or see information posted on the graduate school web site at here.

An entrance interview and proficiency examination are required of all graduate students in materials science, as described above under the master's examinations. The following examinations apply to the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Qualifying Examination

1. A written qualifying examination is taken after completion of the core curriculum courses over the contents of these courses. The departmental examination committee will schedule and administer the exam, usually in the summer semester.

2. Students have a total of two attempts to pass the written qualifying examination.

3. Students who pass the written qualifier are scheduled for the oral examination, which is to be conducted within one month of passing the written examination. The oral examination consists of a proposal by the student on how he/she would perform PhD research on a topic unrelated to their current field of research designated by the evaluation subcommittee. Students have a maximum of two attempts at the oral examination.

4. Upon passing the written and oral examination by the examination committee and major adviser, the applicant applies to the dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies for admission to candidacy and may begin research.

Final Examination

This oral examination is primarily a defense of the dissertation, which must be submitted in final form to the final examination committee at least seven days prior to the scheduled oral examination. At least one final examination committee member must be from a department other than the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Guidelines for dissertation preparation are available from the department secretary.

For the student who has not had previous graduate study, the approximate requirements follow.

1. Seven materials science core courses: MTSE 5000, 5100, 5200, 5300, 5400, 5500 and 5600.

2. Sixty hours may be chosen from materials science or related fields, as approved by the student's major professor and the advisory committee. Individual research hours (MTSE 6940) should not exceed 30 hours.

3. Twelve semester credit hours of MTSE 6950 (Doctoral Dissertation).

4. Seminar in Materials Science and Engineering, MTSE 5700. A minimum of 2 semester credit hours. All doctoral students are expected to attend MTSE 5700 during each semester of full-time graduate study. A seminar based on the student's dissertation research must be given during the regularly scheduled class time prior to and in addition to the formal defense of the dissertation.